TR2/3/3A Changing fan belt.

[John_Progess]

My 60 TR3A has the aluminum Moss extension and the yellow fan installed. This puts the fan about 1" behind the radiator. The clearance between the fan and the cross tube is about 1/16". It looks like I will have to remove the cross tube to replace the fan belt and can you normally remove the cross tube without removing the radiator and the front of the car? Thanks and have a good day!

John

 

[Marvin Gruber]

John,
If I remember correctly, you can undo a motor mount and jack engine up enough to get clearance between hub and crosstube.
Marv

 

[John_Progess]

Thanks for the response Marv. It does not sound like that is something you want to try in a parking lot or on the side of the road! I am trying to come up with a modification if necessary that will enable me to change the belt in an emergency. I will keep trying. Have a good day!

John

 

[Jerry]

https://www.zoro.com/powertwist-plu...gclid=CLaQu-O29csCFZSCfgodJh0Ofg&gclsrc=aw.ds

buy one of these, you can take it apart and put it around the fan blade and then it slips back together. In case you are wondering, I have one of these on my 3 foot lathe and it has run there for 10 years. I used this type because I did not want to take the lathe apart to put on a new belt. Very useful and easier for a roadside repair.

Jerry

 

[2long]

Hi John - you mentioned about a 1 inch clearance between the fan and radiator. If the car has tired motor mounts, is there any concern that the engine may move a bit under heavy braking and the fan skim the radiator? I am actually projecting here, as my car is in a similar state with the fan pretty close to the radiator, maybe less than one inch. How close is too close, and how much movement of the engine is typical? Anyone?

Dan

 

[Marvin Gruber]

John,
Dans comment made me think. You might just need new motor mounts if yours are old. That will raise engine up some. Otherwise you could add a couple of spacers under motor mounts to bring it up you so you would have clearance for belt removal.

Marv

 

[charleyf]

Dan,
regarding the distance between the fan and radiator. When the engine moves it does so from side to side . The only movement of the engine from front to back would happen if the rear mount at the transmission were to fail. I once had both of my engine mounts broke. The only movement I found was on the right side against the inner fender.
to me 1 inch clearance seems very good.
Charley

 

[karls59tr]

Somebody once posted that they fastened (snap ties..wire???) a spare fan belt to the cross member so that if the fan belt broke the spare was ready to go. Maybe someone else has more detail on this?

 

[Geo Hahn]

My TR4 was too tight to change the belt w/o undoing at least one motor mount and jacking the engine. I used some addition shims to get the engine a bit higher, now it is fine. I also raised the radiator a similar amount to keep the upper hose aligned. But you probably don't want to raise it too much (I only needed an extra 1/8") lest you foul on the closed bonnet or the apron.

You can possibly gain some clearance by turning the steering to full lock as On a TR3 this creates some additional clearance (does not work on a r&p TR4).

I have heard of someone installing the spare belt but that seemed over the top. Most important thing you can do is check the belt from time to time and always before a long trip.

 

[CJD]

I have heard of someone installing the spare belt but that seemed over the top. Most important thing you can do is check the belt from time to time and always before a long trip.

I agree! If you check the belt at least once a year, and replace if it looks overly worn, you'll never have a problem with it. I reserve my brain power for more pressing things (or sometimes less pressing?!?).